Warm welcome for Prinsendam

Holland America’s Prinsendam has been making a big impression on a round-Britain cruise, and was particularly welcome at the north Devon town of Ilfracombe, which had been disappointed in May when sister ship Rotterdam had to cancel a call because of rough weather.
The sun wasn’t shining on Friday, but local dignitaries and the town crier put on a warm welcome for the 700 passengers, mostly from America, Canada and New Zealand, who came ashore by tender.
Maureen Brixius, from Florida, returning from an excursion to Exmoor, said: “We loved it; what’s not to like? Even with the rain it was perfect.”
New Yorker Vera Root added: “Ilfracombe is very charming because everything is how it’s always been and the people have been very friendly.”
Ilfracombe Mayor Rod Donovan and his Mayoress, Councillor Janice Donovan, were welcomed on board by Capt Tim Roberts for a traditional plaque exchange ceremony (above), and the ship also provided an opportunity for a helicopter crew from nearby RAF Chivenor to carry out a fire-fighting exercise (below).
The previous day, Prinsendam became the first ship to call at the Royal Portbury Docks in Bristol for more than a decade, and senior officers (below) took the opportunity to visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the first steam-powered screw propeller ship to cross the Atlantic, setting a record time of 14 days in 1845. Take a video tour of Prinsendam with the BBC, who visited for the day.